Looking back and ahead

It’s been a while, yeah yeah, yeah …

Looking back at 2008, there were many things that happened which have me not wanting to wait to boot this year out on its ass with good riddance.

Heading into 2009, though, I suppose reflection isn’t a bad thing, altogether. As ’08 closes, this was a year where I reconnected with a lot of people who many years ago I had nothing in common with. Facebook is a wonderful tool in many ways.

It’s also helped me meet new people, many who are very dear to me, and hopefully will remain so long after 2009 is gone.

This also has been a year of loss and doubt, personally. To those who have talked me down off the ledge – in many cases more than once – thank you. Many times I didn’t know if I would get through the tough times, the bad times, the sad times.

To everyone: I will always be there for you when you need it, 24-7-365. I never close.

While I am hardly a poet or lyricist, I like to see if there is a song that kind of neatly sums up the year on a personal note. I wish I’d discovered the Dropkick Murphys years ago …

I was at my weakest state
And you kept me pushing on
You gave me something to believe in
And it keeps me standing strong
These lessons that I've learned
These things I'll carry on
And when you're gone I'll honor you
Each day, however long …

Like an apple from the tree
you were lock jawed in your ways
A reminder of myself in those long forgotten days
Thought you'd stayed off my path
But I just couldn't see that the blood that's in your veins
Is the same that runs through me …

I had it all but lost my faith
And then you lead me to it
Today I'll carry on
I had it all but lost my faith
And now I've renewed it
These things I'll carry on

See you from the Winter Classic!

Blackhawks ax Savard, Quenneville in

The Blackhawks on Thursday fired Denis Savard, replacing him from former Colorado and St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville.

Much was expected by Chicago this season, but they stumbled to an 0-2-1 start before beating Phoenix 4-1 on Wednesday.

Steak bet, version 3.0

Another year, another steak bet.

Each of the last two NHL seasons, erstwhile fellow STATS editor Christopher Altruda and I place a hockey-related bet against each other.

Two years ago, I said the Chicago Blackhawks wouldn't win six games in six weeks – this was before Kane, Toews, Sharp and real ownership took over. After getting off to a 4-2-0 start, I thought for sure I would be picking up the check at the Chicago Chophouse, but the 'Hawks didn't let me down: they lost eight in a row including three consecutive shutouts.

Hope remained high even after a win over St. Louis. If the Blackhawks lost to Columbus, there was no way they would win at Phoenix and Anaheim to kick off a road trip, and the rib-eye would be mine. Problem was that Lasse Kukkonen scored, and Brian Boucher – 0-7-1 coming in – channeled Patrick Roy and Terry Sawchuk in a 1-0 win over the Blue Jackets.

Last season, it was which team would have the fewest points at the end of the season. No way I was losing this … Phoenix hadn't been competitive since leaving Winnipeg a decade earlier, and with David Aebischer, Mikael Tellqvist and Alex Auld in goal, a 60-something-point season was almost certain.

Of course, that changed on Nov. 17, when the Coyotes picked up Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers from Anaheim. He blanked Los Angeles in his Phoenix debut, the first of four straight wins for his new team.

Six teams finished with fewer points than the Coyotes. And Morton's is overrated, by the way.

To prevent this from being settled again six weeks into the season, Chris and I have created five categories. And now, (drum roll please) ... your 2008-09 Steak Bet.

NUMBER OF GOALS BY WASHINGTON'S ALEXANDER OVECHKIN: I say 58, while Chris had 53.

NUMBER OF POINTS BY PITSBURGH'S SIDNEY CROSBY: I say 107, Chris goes with 112.

YOUR SIX DIVISION WINNERS: I have gone with Philadelphia, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Vancouver, Dallas; Chris has chosen Pittsburgh, Montreal, Carolina, Detroit, San Jose, Calgary.

I think Montreal and Detroit are no-brainers: the Canadiens, celebrating their 100th anniversary will have a certain degree of pride on the ice. Philadelphia over Pittsburgh is a hunch in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Tampa Bay goes from worst to first. Vancouver will win the Northwest because of Luongo. Dallas will just have Ott, Morrow and Avery beat people up to get to the top.

Altruda's rebuttal: I think Pittsburgh stays more healthy this year, and a full season out of Fleury between the pipes is better than a full season of Biron in Philadelphia to win the Atlantic. Montreal, we agree on. I know Washington is going to push, and Florida may sneak up, but I think Carolina has the overall depth 1 thru 18 to win the Southeast. Detroit, Duh. San Jose… I think the Sharks finally exhale this year after having the Ron Wilson self-administered Heimlich maneuver on their collective throats. It also helps that only two opponents are good (Anaheim, Dallas) and two are mediocre (Phoenix, LA).

FIRST COACH OUT (FIRED OR RESIGNED): I have a hunch that Mike Keenan will wear out his welcome in Calgary. Chris thinks Wayne Gretzky won't last in Phoenix.

The only reason why I say Keenan is that all the bad teams from last season changed their coaches, so there will be a honeymoon phase for ones like Peter DeBoer in Florida, Scott Gordon on Long Island and John Anderson in Atlanta.

Keenan is high-risk/high-reward, something he's done in all his stops. With Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla tied up in long-term deals, you can bet they're not going anywhere.

Altruda's rebuttal: Why Gretzky? Because if the Yotes’ aggressive offseason moves don’t pan out in the first 30 games, I think he falls on the sword.

I also still don’t think he likes coaching, he admits losses linger for days after they happen. For a guy who’s psychotically competitive like that, coupled with the internal pressure of this team having to start off fast to me makes him a more likely candidate than your boy, der Fuhrer Keenan.

WORST TEAM: This one should come down to the wire - I've chosen Los Angeles; Chris picks the New York Islanders.

Sure, the Kings have a wealth of offense in Anze Kopitar - this generation's version of Luc Robitaille - and Dustin Brown. The problem, as usual, is goaltending.

Jonathan Bernier and Jon Quick clearly are future of this franchise in goal. Until that happens - Jason LaBarbera and Erik Ersberg?

As noted co-worker and Islander apologist Jon Palmieri said, "How many chances is LaBarbera going to get?" And he's right - LaBarbera was 17-23-2 with a 3.00 goals-against average while Ersberg was 6-5-3 with a 2.48 GAA.

I'm not confident in that. The Kings probably could score five or six goals a game, but will end up allowing seven or eight.

Altruda's rebuttal: I think this is the season this team finally bottoms out dysfunction-wise, and it’s going to be ugly. Like sub-65 point ugly. I also think the Atlantic Division is stronger than the Pacific (where you took the Kings) and will result in a lower point percentage.

And while it is universally accepted the Kings currently have no goaltending, I’m not counting on DiPietro being healthy for a full season, which will cost them at least six wins.

Rangers to honor Graves, Bathgate, Howell

For much of the time when I was growing up and watching the New York Rangers play at Madison Square Garden, only one jersey – Rod Gilbert’s No. 7 – hung from the rafters of the World’s Most Famous Sporting Arena.
Others since have gotten their rightful due. In 11 seasons, Eddie Giacomin (1) became the franchise record-holder with 49 shutouts, and his 266 career wins was eventually broken by Mike Richter (35), who along with Brian Leetch (2) and Mark Messier (11) helped end a 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994.

In February, two more numbers will be raised to honor three players. Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate will have the No. 9 honored, soon to be followed by No. 3 for Harry Howell.

There’s litte doubt about the roles Messier, Richter and Leetch played on the Rangers’ last Cup winner. Messier was the no-nonsense talker, guaranteeing a win. Leetch helped man the blue line, and when opposing players did get in, Richter made sure the puck stayed out.

Graves helped to rewrite the club’s record book, and his influence was felt off the ice as well.

The Rangers’ top goal-scorer during their most recent championship season was not Messier or Leetch. Not Larmer. Nyet to Kovalev. It was Graves who broke Vic Hadfield’s long-standing single-season mark by scoring 52 of New York’s 299 goals.

A two-time team MVP, Graves would score his 50th that season against the Edmonton Oilers – the team he left as a free agent to join New York in 1991. In 10 seasons on Broadway, Graves moved into third on the club list with 280 goals and 10th with 507 points.

Graves has also won several Rangers’ awards in recognition of his contribution to the community, including the Steven McDonald Award five times, and the Rangers Fan Club Ceil Saidel Memorial Award three times.

"Adam Graves is one of the most beloved players to ever don a New York Rangers sweater," Rangers general manager Glen Sather said in a statement. "Off the ice, there isn’t a finer person. His effort and production as a hockey player was nothing short of triumphant and, even today, his dedication to the community is incomparable.

“We are proud to have Adam join his fellow 1994 Stanley Cup Champion teammates Mike Richter, Mark Messier and Brian Leetch, as well as legends Rod Gilbert and Eddie Giacomin, as his number is raised to the rafters of Madison Square Garden."

Bathgate played 12 seasons with New York from 1952-64, spending the last three as its captain. He was the first player in franchise history with a 40-goal season in 1958-59 en route to winning the Hart Trophy as the league MVP, and is fourth in career goals (272), assists (457) and points (729).

An eight-time All-Star and four-time team MVP, Bathgate also holds the Rangers’ franchise record with a 10-game goal-streak set during the 1962-63 campaign. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning a Stanley Cup with them in 1964. Bathgate also played with the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before retiring in 1970.

In 18 seasons, Bathgate appeared in 1,069 games, tallying 349 goals and 624 assists.

Considered one of New York’s most popular players, Howell played for the Rangers from 1952-1969, and was their captain from 1955-57. He still holds the franchise record for games played (1,160), is fifth on the team’s all-time list in assists (263) and points (345) by a defenseman.

A six-time All-Star while with New York, Howell won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman in 1967. He finished his career out West, playing with the Oakland Seals and Los Angeles Kings before retiring after the 1973 season.

“Rangers history is enriched by players like Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell, who laid the foundation for what a Rangers player should be,” Sather said. "They will now take their rightful place in The Garden rafters alongside those players who have carried their tradition throughout the years.”

Who's next then?

Historically, the Rangers have always had great goaltenders - Dunc Wilson, Doug Soetaert and Dave Tataryn notwithstanding. But in only three NHL seasons, Henrik Lundqvist already ranks seventh on the club with 104 wins, and will likely move into fourth in shutouts this season - he has 17 and should leapfrog Lorne Chabot, Gump Worsley, Chuck Rayner and Richter.

What? You think they might raise No. 30 for Gilles Villemure?

2008-09 third jersey alert!

For goobers like me who live for stuff like this, read this.

(Thanks to STATS' Nick DiBennedetto and Jon "Markakis" Palmieri for passing this on!)

Just one simple request

So, I'm sitting here watching the Cubs get ready to play the Marlins, and a woman named Tiffany Turner was on field to sing "God Bless America," and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

During her rendition, she utters the following: "...to the oceans, white with hope ..."

Hope? Try foam.

I have an idea for all these American Idol-wanna-bes - instead of trying to sound like you're angling for a recording contract, learn the words. It's not that difficult.

Report: Islanders talking with Tortorella

The piercing eyes. The steely glare. The look of a man who is one step from getting atop a bell tower to start shooting could be headed to the Nassau Coliseum.

Newsday reported Friday that the New York Islanders are talking with John Tortorella about their head coaching vacancy.

With a change in ownership in Tampa, Tortorella was recently replaced after seven seasons by former ESPN talking head Barry Melrose.

According to Newsday, Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier said the young kids on the team weren't responding to Tortorella's methods. With top overall draft pick Steve Stamkos joining the team, the Lightning thought it best to make a switch at this point.

That, and the fact they finished last in the Eastern Conference.

To say Tortorella is intense is not a stretch. Granted, he brought a Stanley Cup to Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2004, but demands perfection at all times.

Cue STATS’ Chris Altruda after another bad Lightning loss: “I’m tired of the whining,” with a deep drag on a Lucky.

So just wait until Rick DiPietro gives up that bad goal with overtime winding down, long-term, high-dollar contract be damned.

Newsday also reported the Islanders are considering former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Paul Maurice and Bob Hartley, formerly of the Atlanta Thrashers to replace Ted Nolan.

Three to see in 2008-09

It seems like just yesterday that the Detroit Red Wings were lifting their fourth Stanley Cup since 1997.

They’ll be defending it soon enough.

The NHL this week released its 2008-09 schedule, a 1,230-game slate with a new matrix which allows for more non-conference play. Each team will now play six games against division foes, four games against non-division teams in its conference, and 18 games against non-conference teams.

That means I won’t have to wait years to see the New York Rangers at the United Center.

Now, here are three games to watch in 2008-09 …

Jan. 1 – Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks: After the success of last season’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, in which more than 71,000 jammed Ralph Wilson Stadium, the league now focuses an outdoor tilt on two Original Six teams.

Playing this game in one of Major League Baseball’s most storied parks is just an added bonus.

Sure, the Red Wings are the defending champions. Yes, they have been one of the NHL’s elite teams for more than a decade now. But, great things are expected from the Blackhawks this season with reigning Calder Trophy winner Patrick Kane and new captain Jonathan Toews, and newcomers Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet.

New Years Day. Wind off the lake. Maybe some snow. This matchup looks like it will beat last season’s.

Nov. 11 – Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings: Even though they lost in the Stanley Cup finals last season, I’m sure the Penguins expected Marian Hossa to be around to one day help them bring a championship back to Pittsburgh.

He had other plans.

After spurning a long-term deal with the Penguins, Hossa will face his former team as a member of the Red Wings.

Roughly four months after acquiring him from the Atlanta Thrashers in a deadline-day deal Hossa turned his back on a reported five-year contract worth $35 million. He signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings, telling The Associated Press that they seemed to be a better fit for his goals.

"It was a really tough decision for me to make," Hossa said. "When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit."

Considering the Penguins are loaded with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury, that's one ballsy statement from a player who until last postseason was hardly a go-to guy on offense during the playoffs. From 2002-07, Hossa had 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 postseason games with the Ottawa Senators and Atlanta.

He was five assists shy of matching that total in 20 playoff games during the Pens' Cup run this past spring.

Hossa's altruistic bent toward his new team also could pay off down the road. This deal frees up valuable salary-cap space the Wings can use to try and sign stars Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen.

Needless to say, Hossa is persona non grata in Steeltown.

"To me, Marian Hossa is not here," Penguins general manager Ray Shero told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I'm focused on the guys we've got coming back."

Oct. 22 – Dallas Stars vs. New Jersey Devils: Sean Avery? Meet Martin Brodeur.

This is, simply without question, the best player-versus-player feud going today.

"We're not friends," Avery once said of Brodeur. "It's not a (expletive) secret."

Not friends. Not drinking buds. Nothing.

During last season playoffs, Avery - then a noted pain in the ass with the Rangers - did everything he could to get under Brodeur's skin, even bringing up the goalie's 2003 divorce.

In April, Brodeur told The Record of Hackensack (N.J.) that Avery's shtick was getting old.

"I heard everything throughout the 2003 playoffs," he said. "The fans had signs and this and that. It's funny, the lack of new material. I told [Avery], 'It's been five years. Find something else.'"

And then there was this, which made even fanboy highlight show.



With that display, NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell instituted what will always be known as the Avery Rule: "An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."

Needless to say, Avery and Brodeur won't be meeting for tea anytime soon.



Though Avery was a sparkplug, the Rangers were tired of his antics, and let him walk away in free agency after 14 months in New York.

The Stars didn't wait, they pounced by signing Avery to a four-year, $15.5 million contract. Undersized at 5-foot-9, Avery had 15 goals, 33 points and was second on New York with 154 penalty minutes last season. He joins Steve Ott and Brenden Morrow to form a trio that is going to annoy, annoy and annoy some more.

Blackhawks to retire No. 3

Make room in the rafters at the United Center.

Sometime this season, the Chicago Blackhawks will retire No. 3 for Hall of Famer Pierre Pilote and the late Keith Magnuson.

The announcement was made Friday during the opening of the first Blackhawks Convention.

"In keeping consistent with honoring our past greats, the Blackhawks are proud to announce that we will be retiring the number three for two wonderful gentlemen," team president John McDonough said in a press release. "The number three hanging in their honor will be a continuing memory to our fans and players on what it means to be a distinguished member of the Blackhawks family."

Pilote played in the Windy City from 1955-68, and was a member of the Blackhawks’ most recent Stanley Cup championship team in 1961. He was a three-time Norris Trophy winner, a five-time All-Star, and captained the club from 1961-68.

He’s second on the ‘Hawks all-time list among defensemen with 400 assists, and fourth with 477 points. Thirty-seven years ago, Pilote led Chicago with 12 assists and 15 points during their last Cup run.

Magnuson was the quintessential tough guy of his era, racking up 1,442 penalty minutes in 589 games with Chicago from 1969-80, serving the final three seasons as captain. He also was the team’s head coach in 1980-81, leading them to a second-place finish in the Smythe Division.

Magnuson died in 2003 at 56 in Ontario returning from a funeral after a car driven by former NHL blueliner Rob Ramage plowed into another vehicle. Ramage’s blood-alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, and he was sentenced in January to four years in prison.

The No. 3 will be the sixth retired by the Blackhawks, joining those worn by Glenn Hall (1), Bobby Hull (9), current head coach Denis Savard (18), Stan Mikita (21) and Tony Esposito (35).

10,000 hits ... and counting

Thanks to my readers for helping me reach 10,000 hits!

Islanders' Nolan out as coach

Citing philosophical differences, the New York Islanders on Monday announced that coach Ted Nolan would not return for the 2008-09 season.

Nolan had one season remaining on his contract.

"Ted has helped us achieve some success over the last two seasons, however it has become clear that we have philosophical differences and have decided together to part ways," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "Since last season and continuing into the summer, I have realized we do not share the same philosophies. I would like to thank Ted for his two years with the team and wish him the best.

"I have a list of several qualified candidates. After a thorough process, we will hire the very best coach to lead the Islanders on the ice."

Added Nolan: "While I am disappointed I will not be coaching the Islanders next season, there have been philosophical differences and we’ve agreed it’s a good time for me to move on. I want to thank the Islanders organization for giving me a chance to coach in the NHL again.

"I have tremendous respect for what the team is trying to do and I wish them well."

Nolan, who coached the Buffalo Sabres from 1995-97, went 75-68-21 in two seasons on Long Island.

Fear the pig

What is it about minor league hockey teams and all things porcine?

The IceHogs are the top affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. The Chops - I really want to meet the marketing guru behind that - are the new AHL team for the Anaheim Ducks.

Former Senators goaltender Emery headed to Russia

Ray Emery’s hopes of continuing his career in the National Hockey League are on hold.

TSN is reporting the former Ottawa Senators goaltender has agreed to a one-year deal with Atlant Mytishchi of the new Russian Continental Hockey League.
The deal is reportedly worth at least $2 million plus bonuses.

"Unfortunately, it's only been a short time since the buyout and there isn't anybody willing to give (Emery) a second chance at this time," said Emery's agent J.P. Barry to the Sun Media. "I think if people knew the things that he's done over the last little while to turn the corner, there might be more interest out there.

According to Barry, Emery had hoped to play in the NHL next season, but received just three calls. I’m guessing the Los Angeles Kings had to be one.

Emery hopes this is a stopgap in his NHL career. Last season, he lost his starting job to Martin Gerber, and a series of off-ice antics prompted the Senators to buy out Emery’s contract.

Less than a year ago and coming off a 33-win season, Emery signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract with Ottawa after helping lead it to the Stanley Cup finals. The Senators were beaten in five games by the Anaheim Ducks.

“He's a talented goalie who wants to play," Barry said of Emery, who finished 2007-08 with a 12-13-4 record.

Flames take chance on Bertuzzi

You knew someone was going to take a chance that Todd Bertuzzi had something left in the tank. It should be no surprise that Mike Keenan would be the one to bite.

The Calgary Flames on Monday signed Bertuzzi to a one-year deal worth $1.95 million. That came on the same day they lost Owen Nolan, who signed for two years and $5.5 million with the Minnesota Wild.

"Todd is a proven scorer with the ability to play both wings," Flames GM Darryl Sutter said in a statement. "He expressed to us that he wanted to play in Canada and that desire along with signing him to a one year deal was important to our philosophy.

"He wanted to play on a good team and it fit our money. Additionally, our captain, Jarome Iginla, was a strong supporter of Todd and wanted him on our team."

Bertuzzi signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks on July 2, 2007, despite being limited to 15 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers the previous season.

He missed 14 games early in the season due to a concussion, but didn't miss any more time after that, and finished with 14 goals and 26 assists in 68 games. The Ducks bought out Bertuzzi on June 28, making him an unrestricted free agent.

For comparison, Nolan played 77 games with the Flames last season, and put up 16 goals and 16 assists.

Bertuzzi had his best season in 2002-03 he tallied 46 goals, 51 assists and was named a first-team All-Star. In March 2004, he was suspended for the final 13 regular-season games and the playoffs for deliberately injuring and ending the career of Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche.

The ban extended through the 2004-05 lockout, and prevented Bertuzzi from playing in Europe.

Moore suffered a broken neck among other injuries, and has never played again.

Report: Wrigley Field to host Blackhawks-Red Wings

According to a published report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks will meet the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on New Year’s Day at Wrigley Field.

Citing an NHL source, the Star-Tribune reported an announcement is expected next week before the inaugural "Blackhawks Convention" at the Chicago Hilton.

On New Year's Day, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres in a shootout in front of an NHL-record crowd of 71,217 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in New York.

Is it too early for me start hunting for tickets? A CBC article in September stated more than 42,000 tickets were snapped up in less than 30 minutes for that tilt.

The 30-year foul ball

Anniversary time - 30 years (!) ago tonight, I caught a foul ball on the fly at Shea Stadium.

10:22 p.m., seventh inning, Mets vs. Phillies. Dale Murray pitching to Garry Maddox. I was sitting in field box 65K with my father, and Maddox hits a foul ball.

Keep in mind that at 13, I was pushing around 250-260. Somehow, I stood up on the seat as my father ducked behind me, and got my gloved hand up through the sea of other arms. Attendance that night, 8,667

I think the ball is still somewhere in my trunk.

The annual New York Rangers makeover

Another offseason, another roster turnover for the New York Rangers.

With the free agent and trade markets now looking like the meat counter at your local Costco before closing time, Rangers general manager Glen Sather hopes these latest moves will get them past the second round in 2008-09.

“If you can’t get by the first round it’s time to make some changes,” he said on Thursday. “We felt that watching Pittsburgh and Detroit and some of these other teams that were being a little more offensive, a little more explosive, that we had to make some changes.

“We felt it was time to make some changes, and we made them.”

Last summer, New York made some of the biggest offseason moves by luring Chris Drury away from the Buffalo Sabres and Scott Gomez from the New Jersey Devils.

On Tuesday, New York started it's latest makeover with a head-scratcher by giving Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden a six-year, $39 million contract and retained Michal Rozsival (4 years, $20 million) to be their top pairing on the blueline.

“In our opinion he’s the best first-passer in the game,” Sather said of Redden. “He moves the puck up exceptionally. He’s somebody that we had targeted immediately. He was our No. 1 guy on defense, as well as Rozsival.

“We wanted to get them both signed, and we did. We’re quite happy that we’ve got them. We think that’s going to help us move the puck to the forwards as well as anybody in the league.”

Sather should know this: Redden and Rozsival were tied for 21st in scoring among defensemen last season with 38 points.

Then came the Wednesday night fleecing, as New York acquired talented but enigmatic forward Nikolai Zherdev and young defenseman Dan Fritsche from the Columbus Blue Jackets for defensemen Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman.

Zherdev was picked fourth overall in the 2003 NHL draft behind Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal and Nathan Horton. The 23-year-old Russian set career highs last season with 35 goals and 61 points, but even though he has the ability to make dazzling highlight plays, he was distant with teammates and management and probably needed a change of scenery. I imagine he clashed with noted taskmaster and head coach Ken Hitchcock.

Does Zherdev sound familiar? If it were 15 years ago, this guy would be named Alexei Kovalev.

"Nik's going to play with some terrific players in New York, and I expect Nik to have a great year there," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson told the Columbus Dispatch. "He might get to the 25- or 30-goal mark, or, who knows, he could hit 35 or 40."

Fritsche, also 23, led Columbus' defensemen with 10 goals including four game-winners.

Tyutin was considered one of the Rangers' most talented prospects coming up, but never seemed to fulfill expectations in four seasons. Backman did little in 18 games with the Blueshirts after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues just before the trading deadline.

"This was value for value. We'll be judged on how well our team does, and that's how it should be," Howson said.

On Thursday, the Rangers welcomed Markus Naslund into the fold, signing the former Vancouver Canucks captain for two years and $8 million.

Naslund’s scoring numbers have dipped recently. He's gone from a career-best 48 goals and 104 points in 2002-03 to 25 goals and 55 points last season.

Still, he seemed more than happy to set up shop on Seventh Avenue.

“Since July 1, my eyes have been set on the Rangers. It ended up taking a little bit longer but I’m very pleased that I’m a Ranger now,” Naslund said on a conference call from Sweden. “I want to feel that I play on a level where I know I can play. I want to play better hockey than I have the past few years. That’s why I’m looking at this as a challenge for me to prove that.”

The addition of Naslund also finally meant the end of Jaromir Jagr's four years in New York, and possibly the future Hall of Famer's NHL career after 17 seasons

On Friday, Jagr's agent Pat Brisson confirmed Jagr signed a two-year contract with Russia's Avangard Omsk of the new Continental Hockey League over in the motherland. Jagr later left no doubt.

“It was the toughest decision in my life, hockeywise. … No question about it. I hate making changes,” Jagr told The Canadian Press. Pittsburgh, the Rangers and the Edmonton Oilers are were believed to have one-year offers to the fifth overall pick in the 1990 draft.

“It was a very difficult but personal decision to make in light of the many NHL teams interested in his services,” Brisson told The Associated Press. “He is grateful to the NHL and especially the Rangers in recent years.”

If it is indeed the end of the line, Jagr falls one point short of 1,600 for his career. He also had 77 goals and 104 assists in 169 playoff games, helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the early '90s.

The Rangers made three moves that didn't get a whole lot of play, adding Aaron Voros from the Minnesota Wild, Patrick Rissmiller from the San Jose Sharks and Dmitri Kalinin from the Sabres.

Voros will provide toughness - the 6-foot-4 forward had 141 penalty minutes in 55 games as a rookie with the Wild last season. Rissmiller, also 6-4, had a career high eight goals with the Sharks in 2007-08. Kalinin, entering his ninth season, is a 6-foot-3 defenseman who seems fragile: He was out 23 games with a strained knee early last season, and sat out another 12 with a shoulder injury in March.

Some of the moves leave me puzzled. Is Redden worth $6.5 million a season? Sather considers Redden one of the best passing defensemen in the game, but he's never had more than 40 assists in any of his 12 seasons. Wouldn't Brooks Orpik - a younger, hard-hitting defenseman who got $22.5 million from the Penguins - a sounder choice in a physical Atlantic division?

Is a 35-year-old Naslund making $4 million a season better than a 36-year-old Jagr? It depends how the chemistry between Naslund develops with Gomez, Drury and Brandon Dubinsky.

And what of Mats Sundin? As of Friday afternoon, Sundin, 37, is still available and weighing a two-year, $20 million offer from the Canucks, but the Rangers and Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings appear to be in the mix.